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Jacob Greaves will make his third appearance for Cheltenham Town in Tuesday night's match against Carlisle United, which will be his home debut. The 18-year-old defender was a season ticket holder at Hull City when they were in the Premier League and he grew up watching now Manchester United and England star Harry Maguire play in a back three at the KCOM Stadium before earning a pro deal with the Tigers...

Two games into your loan spell at Cheltenham Town, how are you finding it so far?

I think I have started well. I came in and wasn’t really expecting to do too much, but Boyley (Will Boyle) has been injured so I have slotted in on the left side of the three and in the two games I’ve played so far I think I’ve done well and I’ve found it comfortable. In the Bristol Rovers game it was a little bit tough, I have to admit that. Playing a League One side who were a good team on the night. I am finding it really good and hoping to play quite a few more games for Cheltenham.

Jacob Greaves

Good to keep a clean sheet on Saturday. Has anything taken you by surprise because this is your first taste of first team senior football?

Definitely the physicality and marking from set pieces, the boys are a lot tougher to mark. You have to be switched on for the full 90 minutes because there are balls down your throat all the time and it’s a lot different to what I have experienced so far. I think I am getting used to it. Getting my first league game and cup game out of the way, they always say the first is the toughest so hopefully now I can relax and just enjoy my football.

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What were your overall thoughts on Saturday's 0-0 draw at Morecambe and was keeping a clean sheet the main aim after conceding three at Bristol Rovers?

We know we are a good team defensively and the gaffer (Michael Duff) said at half-time, if we don’t win he wants a clean sheet. He wants us to show we are capable of doing that away from home because the away form’s not been the best in previous months. We’ve done well defensively. We had a few chances, one in the first half to go 1-0 up and from there I think we’d have got comfortable. You saw it in the Scunthorpe game, once we scored one, we scored three more so getting that first goal relaxes everyone down and then we can start playing our stuff a little bit more.

You knew Max Sheaf, but what’s it like coming out to a new club and settling in at the age of 18?

It’s different and obviously I’ve moved away from home which is tough to be fair, but I am getting used to that now. I look forward to coming in every morning because the boys are brilliant, such a close knit group and everyone is good mates. We do things outside of the club as well and I couldn’t have asked for a better club to come and join and everyone has been so welcoming. It’s a great club and hopefully we can push on.

You got your pro deal at Hull last season, but had you been there since you started playing football?

I think I came in around eight or maybe even younger on camps. I have progressed from there, seen how the club has changed and progressed. I was delighted to come out for six months and experience first team football, which is only going to benefit me in the future.

Your dad Mark was a popular player at Hull, did that make turning pro even more special?

Definitely. Everyone says how much of a good player he was at Hull, which puts a bit of pressure on my shoulders, but I like that to be fair and I want to go and play for Hull in the future. I speak to him every day and I haven’t seen him for a couple of weeks, but he’s coming to a few of the games and this week he’s coming, so I am looking forward to seeing him. He’s been on the phone, telling me to enjoy it and asking me how the games have gone and he just said keep going and he’s looking forward to seeing me soon.

Has Grant McCann given you any specific instructions?

The gaffer said on the Thursday, he wanted me to come out on loan to Cheltenham and I was delighted. I didn’t expect it, but it’ll be helpful for me. He was really helpful about it, said it was a great club, he’s played here before, said to play with a smile on my face, enjoy it, play as many games as I can and then after the game on Saturday he rung me and asked me how it all went, which was nice of him. He said he’ll do that a lot and he’s been helpful with everything and he’s a good manager.

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He’s not been there that long, but he’s already made some favourable comments about you and how excited he is about your potential. How does that make you feel?

It gives you confidence and that little bit extra to play, knowing the gaffer at Hull City is saying how highly he rates me. I have to keep playing and hopefully his expectations of me go higher and I can keep playing. I know he’s come out and said some stuff about me which is great, but I want to make sure all the people at Cheltenham know that as well.

Jacob Greaves (Image: Focus)

You’ll have seen Hull play in the Premier League. Was there anyone you particularly looked up to?

I was a season ticket holder in the Prem! Harry Maguire was there who was unbelievable for Hull and got his move to Leicester, everyone know he was going to be a talent. He played in a back three as well so I was watching how he played as well, obviously not knowing I was going to come here and play in a back three at 18 years old. But I had a look at how he played. There was Michael Dawson too, who was a very good player. When I came in last season and this season, it’s the likes of Jordy de Wijs and Ryan Tafazolli who have helped me loads. Taf has played in League Two and League One – he told me to go and enjoy it, be ready for the challenge and that I’ll impress. All of them are great role models.

It’s quite early to get your first loan spell, if you can do well do you think that’ll bode well for knocking on the door of the first team?

Definitely. Not many 18-year-olds have come on loan at centre-back. If I can get that development in now, 18, playing in League Two, it’s only going to improve me all round which will hopefully be a stepping stone to going on to play for Hull City, that’s what I want to do. If not, then maybe go back next year, get another loan and play in the Football League more – that’s what I want to do.

Hull City loan signing Jacob Greaves

Carlisle at home on Tuesday night. Home form has been good. How are you finding it with Ben Tozer and Charlie Raglan at the back?

They have been brilliant, talking me to throughout and telling me what they expect of me and what they want me to do. I have to keep talking as well, not just those two. I need to communicate with Toze and Rags and they’ve been brilliant. If we keep another clean sheet, we know our home form is good, but that’s not going to make us automatically win the game – we have to work harder than them and hopefully that’ll give us the three points this time.